A slow-maturing horse with bad feet, Saint Liam did not become a stakes winner until age 4 but progressed sufficiently that year that he ran 2004 American Horse of the Year Ghostzapper to a neck in the Woodward Stakes (USA-I) under level weights. The following year he was better still, and with Ghostzapper having retired due to injury following a brilliant win in the Metropolitan Handicap (USA-I), there was nothing else left in training capable of seriously challenging Saint Liam for American Horse of the Year honors. Unfortunately, he did not have long to rest on his laurels as he suffered a fatal injury after standing only one season at stud, leaving behind a single crop that suggested that he might have made a very good stallion had he lived longer.

A good-sized bay horse, Saint Liam had an excellent shoulder, a good hip and a straight, strong hind leg but had small feet with thin hoof walls and soles.He was game and determined as a racehorse but had a tendency to bear out on the turn for home. He generally preferred to stalk the pace when racing. He was a poor eater in the barn. He had a strong-willed disposition as a youngster but was quiet and businesslike as a mature horse.

As a stallion

According to Jockey Club records, Saint Liam sired 98 named foals in his single crop. From those foals, he sired 68 winners and nine stakes winners.

Notable progeny

Cocolo (MEX), Havre de Grace(USA)

Connections

Foaled in Kentucky, Saint Liam was bred by Edward P. Evans. He was owned by William K. Warren, Jr., and his wife Suzanne, who purchased Saint Liam for US$130,000 from the 2001 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling sale. He was trained by Anthony Reinstedler at age 3 and by Richard E. Dutrow, Jr., at ages 4 and 5. Prior to the 2005 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I), the Warrens sold Saint Liam's breeding rights to Lane's End Farm for a reported US$12 million with provisos for the price to increase to US$14 million if the horse won the Classic and US$15 million if Saint Liam became Horse of the Year.

Saint Liam entered stud in 2006 in Kentucky at Lane's End Farm. Unfortunately, he accidentally fractured a tibia when he fell while being walked to his paddock in August of that year and had to be humanely destroyed.

Misty Dancer and Minstrella are out of stakes-placed Flight Dancer, also the dam of Grade II winner Misty Gallore (by Halo; dam of the good sire Silver Ghost, by Mr. Prospector) and a half sister to 1973 Argentine champion sire Dancing Moss (by Ballymoss). The next dam in Saint Liam's tail-female line is stakes winner Courbette (by Native Dancer), a half sister to stakes winner Mlle. Lorette (by Lovely Night) and a daughter of the great Gallorette.

Fun facts

According to William K. Warren, Jr., Saint Liam was named in honor of his father, the senior William K. Warren. “Liam” is the Irish form of “William.”

Saint Liam earned the highest Beyer Speed Figure of 2005 with a 123 in the Whitney Stakes (USA-I)--ironically, a race he lost by a neck.

Saint Liam was honored with the 2005 New York Turf Writers Association's Secretariat Award for the horse with the most notable racing performances in New York in that year.

Following the 2005 Breeders' Cup Classic (USA-I), William Warren pledged to donate half of Saint Ballado's breeding rights to the Saint Francis Health System in Oklahoma, a pledge worth US$7.5 million if the figures regarding the sale of Saint Liam's breeding rights to Lane's End are accurate.

In 2007, the Warrens donated US$8 million to Notre Dame University to refurbish the health center, now known as “Saint Liam's.”

Acknowledgements

American Classic Pedigrees thanks Jessica Morgan for her permission to use her portrait of Saint Liam. Please do not copy or distribute this photo without her permission. If you would like to contact her, send me an e-mail at aviechat@hotmail.com and I will pass on the message.